Heya everyone I just registered for this (for Saturday the 12th) and will be running in group #3. This will be my first NASA event and first time out with any of you crazy Z guys (I've been down there several times with the BMW club).

So who's going? I'd love to meet up with some fellow Z owners, I'm tired of being the only non-German car in the group (then again it's fun to fly by M3's and smack talk them afterwards!)

-Ross

 

Not sure of your track experience, but make sure you have cleared with either Kevin (Cheif Instructor, s/n ker) or Dave Balingit (Director, s/n bpanther) that you have the appropriate experience to drive in HPDE Group 3.

I'd love to join you, but I have unfortunately moved from Colorado.
On the other hand, I am now living 5 miles from Laguna Seca.....

 

It's been a hectic summer. While everybody is at NASA's MMP event in June, I'll be headed to Wisconsin to race at Road America's June Sprints. If things go well there, I expect to be back racing at a SCCA Double National in LaJunta over the July 4th weekend. And if there's anything left in the Z, I plan to drive my rig back to Pueblo and store it there for a week. Then, (after driving back and forth from Denver) I'll race in the NASA Thunder race group! Keep those fingers crossed- the next few weeks promise to be a wild ride. I need two more events to qualify for the NASA Nationals at Mid-Ohio and this is my window!

 

Dave,

Thanks for letting me know that, I'll look those guys up. While I'm new to the sport in terms of time I've done a lot of driving (and classes) recently. I asked both of my recent instructors what group I should drive in and they all suggested #3. I will ping them however, it just wasn't clear from the site.

Have you had your Z on Laguna Seca yet? I grew up 10 miles from Road Atlanta and never realized what I had so close...

-Ross

 

I lwerally got to CA two days ago, so no Laguna Seca yet. Driven by it though, and driven it a lot virtually on the XBOX360 not the same thing, obviously...

There are 5 tracks within 3 hours of me, here. Laguna Seca, Infineon (formely Sear Point), Thurderhill, ButtonWillow, and Willow Springs. I'm in racer heaven!!!

Check your PM's, by the way

 

That's awesome Dave, lucky you. You'll have to tell me how the game compares, meaning is it helpful teaching you the route of the track. I have a good friend who is a semi-pro racer (wealthy dude who does driving events twice a month and just got a new R8) - he said it was helpful learning the Nurburgring a few years ago.

My gamertag is jinzora BTW, I assume you're playing Forza 2? Also assume you have a wheel right?

-Ross

 

Fora 2, yes, with the wheel, yes, but I don't play online. Only offline, just to have fun.

I've definitely learned the track, and know what turns come up, but learning the actual line, I think, will take actual track time.

 

Ross,

Our Z/G group is always open and encouraging of new drivers. We typically pit together in the paddock area so just look for your kind and you'll be welcomed without question. I have no doubt you'll enjoy the NASA people and the events they sanction. Consider working your way up to getting a time trial license, I could use some friendly competition.

Joel

 

Dave, you will LOVE Laguna....drove there once and it was phenomenal. I didnt realize you could get to Willow in three hours from Salinas. All those tracks are great!

Hopefully I can get away for the day to go down to run at Pueblo, since I am in the Springs now. Been without the Z since February and I am getting it back this weekend!!!! Cant wait!!!

 

Where is the registration done for NASA?

 

NASA’s local site is here:

http://www.nasarockymountain.com/

The thread with the registration link to the July Pueblo event is here:

http://www.nasarockymountain.com/nas...ead.php?t=2100

The NASA National site (where you can find the info on becoming a member of NASA) is here:

http://www.nasaproracing.com/

Welcome to Colorado - it’ll be great to have another Z join us at the local NASA events!

 

Thanks Gary, I am looking forward to getting out. I am in the process of building a track only car that should be way more fun than the current one!!! Again thanks for the info and I look forward to getting out and running with you guys!

 

Ross,

How are your mod installs going? Still going to make it this weekend?


Who else will be joining us?

Roll Call
jgray
rosscarleson
GaryM05
Navygolf13 ???
dkmura ???

 

^^^ I think you got your answers to all your questions. Ross, please keep us updated.

Dave, Joel, Gary, Joann, nice seeing everyone. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to get my car out to the next one.

Joel: I still think you had the best body.....kit..at the entire event.

 

Phu, you're gonna get me in trouble with my girl!

I'm glad to see all of you this past weekend and hope to meet up again in Hastings. Thanks Gary, for keeping Preston in-line and engaged with working grid. He's very excited to work future events although I'm not sure how to get him AND Glenda to Hastings in my Z. I might have to make him ride in the toolbox mounted on the trailer.

Joel

 

It was good to see all my Z friends and make a few new ones! In particular, thanks to Gary and JoAnn for their hard work in helping run the show. My weekend was somewhat uneventful with the Nissan Sport Project 350Z T2 racer usually qualifying mid-pack in the thunder group. Starts are a problem because the torque of the V-8s (as well as the Mac Autosport turbo 240SX) just got up and swept around me! Still, I enjoyed using the Z's handling and brakes to catch the pack and start reeling them in.

While the Z ran well during the weekend, I'm still puzzled by the lack of straightline speed. Coming off T10 I had good exit speed (and a lot of scub) and would shift into fifth just before the timing boards. The best top end figures I had were just before I'd brake at the 1.5 brake marker (for T1) at 119 MPH and that was in the cool morning. Most of the time it was more like 114-115 MPH (when it got hotter) during the races. Must not be stirring those 'Rev-up' ponies hard enough...

Finally a special thanks to Bamyi for all his invaluable help crewing this weekend. He learned how to run a compuscale pyrometer, evaluate Brembo brake wear, refuel without using the remote gascap button and run a pitboard among other esoteric tasks. We also got to sit in the shade whenever possible and loan out tools here and there.

 

It was good to see everyone again, though I regret not having had the opportunity to meet Ross…we were just never in the same place at the same time, I guess. I spent the weekend working grid, since I didn’t have a car in track-able condition for the weekend, and I have to say that it wasn’t nearly as bad of an experience as I had thought it might be – I got to learn a lot, and I had the pleasure of working with Joel’s little brother Preston, who I found to be much more grown-up than his age would have you believe.

It was fun seeing David race (with Phu’s capable crewing help), and Joel compete in TT while also working as an instructor with a group 1 student.

We definitely missed Dave90TT, though, who was a regular at these events before moving to NorCal, as his presence always had a positive impact on the weekend. He’s no doubt currently sitting on a beach somewhere in California, thinking of new ways to shave time through the corkscrew at Laguna Seca.

 

Sorry, haven't even been to LS yet. Way too busy here!

I missed you all, though, wish I could have been there. Who all is going to make it to Hastings? I guarentee it will be worth it, the track is fun, and the facilites are nice (although MMP is obviously better)

 

Hey, Joel, I got my DVD from Larry. Some good pics on there, I can upload them to your ftp site if you want, or not.

Here's my favorite pic....

 

Oh, and you may or may not have noticed, that one is now my avatar!